On February 25, 2025, Jürg Burri, Ambassador of Switzerland to China, visited Renmin University of China (RUC) and delivered a keynote speech at the RDCY Forum for Area Studies, Ambassador Forum No.6.

Before the speech, Lin Shangli, the President of RUC, met with Ambassador Jürg Burri. Subsequently, H. E. the Ambassador gave a speech titled The Innovative and Steadyfast Partnership between Switzerland and China at the RDCY Forum for Area Studies, Ambassador Forum. Wang Wen, Dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China (RDCY), presided over the entire event.

During his speech, Ambassador Jürg Burri introduced firstly the basic situation of Switzerland. He mentioned that compared to China, Switzerland is a very small country with an area of only about 42,000 square kilometers and a population of 9 million. As a modernized nation, Switzerland was established in 1848 and is a neutral country that maintains friendly relations with other nations around the world. It places a high value on education, with academic education, vocational training, and academic research collectively shaping Swiss Innovative Triangle. As a result, Switzerland ranks highly in many global innovation index rankings.

When it comes to Sino-Swiss relations, Ambassador Jürg Burri highlighted the longstanding history of bilateral ties, with trade exchanges dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, Switzerland took the initiative to extend an invitation to establish diplomatic relations in 1950, positioning itself as one of the first European nations to recognize and forge diplomatic ties with New China. The political relationship between the two countries has remained remarkably stable, characterized by frequent high-level visits and vibrant people-to-people exchanges. On the economic and trade front, the two nations laid the groundwork for cooperation with their first trade agreement in 1975, followed by the signing of a free trade agreement in 2014, which has since cemented a robust and enduring trade partnership. Nowadays, more than 1,000 Swiss companies operate in China, not only achieving significant revenue but also driving technology transfer and bringing expertise in management and marketing. Meanwhile, Swiss companies are also learning from China how to adapt to local demands, such as the Chinese speed, which is largely attributed to digital transformation, a global trend that highlights the close interconnection between China and the world in this process.

There are also many Chinese companies in Switzerland, where they have learned important experiences, particularly in research and development. Numerous Chinese startups have established operations in Switzerland, leveraging its strategic position at the heart of Europe as a gateway to access broader European markets. Since 2014, China has consistently held the position of Switzerland’s third-largest trading partner for ten consecutive years, while Switzerland ranks as China’s sixth-largest trading partner in Europe and serves as a key source of technology imports. Both nations are strong advocates of free trade, with Switzerland leading the way as the first country in the world to completely eliminate tariffs on industrial goods, without following the EU or other countries in imposing additional tariffs.

During the Q&A session, Ambassador Jürg Burri actively engaged with the audience. When questioned about the China-Switzerland relationship, he stated that the bilateral diplomatic ties are developing well, with the achievements made so far being highly encouraging, and conveyed optimism about sustaining a positive trajectory in the future. Regarding the acceptance of Chinese new energy vehicles in the Swiss and European markets, he acknowledged that while challenges remain, the Swiss market does not impose any barriers on Chinese automakers, allowing for completely free trade without customs or other institutional obstacles. He also advised Chinese companies considering investments in Switzerland or Europe to fully understand the local complexities, as each European country is different. Emphasizing the significance of mutual trust, he encouraged Chinese companies to build confidence in Switzerland and to incorporate Swiss talent into their operations, thereby maximizing the benefits of local expertise.

Additionally, Ambassador Jürg Burri mentioned that to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the established diplomatic relations between the two countries, China and Switzerland have prepared many exciting activities, hoping to see deepened cooperation in politics, economy, culture, education and other fields. The ambassador also engaged in in-depth discussions with the audience on topics such as biopharmaceutical cooperation, intellectual property, corporate protection, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the culture of German-speaking countries (since German is one of Switzerland’s official languages).

The event was supported by the RUC Entrepreneur and Executive Alumni Club (RUCEEAC). Attendees included Zhang Jianming, former Executive Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of RUC and President of the Alumni Entrepreneurs Association; Zhou Rong, Secretary-General of the Alumni Association of RUC and Secretary-General of RUCEEAC; and Li Guowang, Secretary-General of the Pujiang Financial Forum and Senior Advisor of RDCY. Other participants included Liu Zhiqin, former Chief Representative of (Swiss) Zuercher Kantonal bank in Beijing and Senior Fellow of RDCY; Song Ronghua, a seasoned diplomat and founder of the Silk Road Cities Alliance; representatives from foreign banks and financial institutions in China; and nearly 200 participants including faculty, students, and international students, from Renmin University of China and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as well as media representatives.